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History of the Second Massachusetts Battery (Nims' Battery) of Light
Artillery
[Illustration: Capt. Ormand F. Nims in War Time.]
HISTORY OF THE SECOND MASSACHUSETTS BATTERY
(NIMS' BATTERY)
OF LIGHT ARTILLERY
1861-1865
COMPILED FROM RECORDS OF THE REBELLION,
OFFICIAL REPORTS, DIARIES AND ROSTERS
By
CAROLINE E. WHITCOMB
THE RUMFORD PRESS
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE
1912
CONTENTS
NIMS' SECOND MASSACHUSETTS BATTERY 7
NIMS' BATTERY ASSOCIATION 73
LIFE OF COL. ORMAND F. NIMS 79
ROSTER OF SECOND MASSACHUSETTS BATTERY 85
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Capt. Ormand F. Nims in War time _Frontispiece_
Battery Encampment at Stewart's Place, 12
Baltimore, 1861
Landing of Federal Troops from 38
Transport, Laurel Hill
Second, Fourth, and Sixth Massachusetts 47
Batteries at Baton Rouge
Col. Ormand F. Nims 73
Old Nims Homestead at Deerfield, Mass. 79
PREFACE
During the years which have followed the close of the Civil War, there
have appeared many histories of various companies, regiments and
different divisions of the volunteer troops, all of value both to the
historian and to the participants in the great struggle. So far as can
be learned, almost nothing has been published of the military history of
the 2d Massachusetts Light Artillery, better known as Nims' Battery,
save a few short sketches necessarily incomplete and sometimes
inaccurate.
In 1870, at the Anniversary Dinner of the Nims' Battery Association, the
matter of "publishing a history of the battery during its service
throughout the war of the Rebellion, 1861-1865," was brought forward and
a committee was appointed to take the necessary steps toward this work.
The committee, which consisted of Col. O. F. Nims, J. S. Knowlton, John
R. Smith, A. M. Norcross, D. M. Hammond and A. B. Burwell, issued a call
to the members of the battery asking each one to forward to the
committee any information in his possession such as diaries, letters,
newspaper clippings or matter of any kind that might aid in the work,
and urging the hearty coöperation of all "to the end that the glorious
record made by Nims' Battery--second to no other--may not be suffered to
perish in oblivion in our day and generation, but be handed down to our
children and children's children for all time."
So far as can be ascertained, nothing further was done in the matter and
the only records to be found are those incorporated in the general
histories of the war or in war records, which are not always easy of
access.
At the request and through the generosity of a member of the Nims'
Family Association, the writer has prepared the following brief account
of the military career of Nims' Battery, together with the life of its
commander, the history of the Battery Association and the complete
roster. After a period of fifty years, it has been impossible to gather
together the personal reminiscences and to bring before our readers the
life of an artillery man as clearly as we could wish. We trust, however,
that there will be found in the pages of this book a fairly complete and
reasonably accurate record of the military career of this organization.
At a meeting of the Nims' Battery Association held on April 19, 1912,
the manuscript of the entire history was read to the members present and
received their support and commendation.
The author wishes to express her obligation to all who have assisted in
any way in the preparation of this work, and especially to W. G. Hidden,
Fitchburg, Mass., for the loan of diary, newspaper clippings and
suggestions, to Capt. E. K. Russell for his comments and suggestions and
to Mrs. Mathews, stepdaughter of Col. O. F. Nims for the loan of papers,
letters and pictures once the property of Colonel Nims. Thanks are also
due Clarence K. Knowlton for the copy of the diary of his father, J. S.
Knowlton, to Mrs. C. B. Maxwell for the diary of C. B. Maxwell, to Mr.
George Houghton, Newport, for the diary of his father, George Houghton.
The expense of the preparation and publication of the book has been
borne to a large degree by Mr. E. D. Nims of Kansas City whose
generosity is appreciated both by members of the Battery and by the
Nims' Family Association.
THE AUTHOR.
Books Consulted in Preparation of this Work
War of the Rebellion, Official Records of the Union and Confederate
Armies.
Massachusetts in the Civil War. I. L. Bowen.
History of the Civil War. B. J. Lossing.
Putnam's Record of the Rebellion. Moore.
Century Company's War Book.
The Mississippi. J. V. Greene.
The Nineteenth Army Corps. Irwin.
Regimental and Battery Histories of New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
[Illustration: Camp of the Massachusetts Second Company Light Artillery,
at Stewarts Place, Baltimore]
NIMS' SECOND MASSACHUSETTS BATTERY
Few batteries during the Civil War saw more actual service than that
known officially as the 2d Massachusetts Light Artillery, but more
generally called Nims' Battery. Its career is well worth recording and
the part it played in the campaigns of the Department of the Mississippi
and the Gulf was by no means inconsiderable in the history of the war.
Previous to 1861, there existed in Boston a military organization called
the Boston Light Artillery or Cook's Battery. When the news came from
Baltimore that the Sixth Regiment had been fired on and the city was in
the hands of rioters, General Butler who was then in Philadelphia, asked
that this organization be sent forward immediately to the scene.
It was midnight of April 19, 1861, when the telegraph brought the
request: before the night of the 20th everything was in readiness and in
the early morning of the 21st the first battery from Massachusetts was
on its way to Baltimore for a period of three months' service.
It had not left Boston, however, before Governor Andrews gave orders for
the formation of a second battery and designated Major Moses Cobb as its
commander. Recruiting headquarters were opened on the 20th of April at
the Boston Light Artillery Armory under Major O. F. Nims, and in less
than two days two hundred men applied for enlistment. "Every member,
officers and men, was the greenest of raw material, but they were an
intelligent set of fellows and took to drilling as a duck to water."
_Colonel Nims._
Most of the men were from Boston and vicinity.
The first public appearance of the battery was on June 17, when a parade
was held on Boston Common, and on July 4 a detachment fired a salute at
morning, noon and night from the same historic spot.
On July 5 the battery was ordered to the camp of instruction at
Wollaston Heights, Quincy, on what was known as the Adams estate, which
consequently gave to the camp the name of Camp Adams. Here for a month,
the men were drilled in all the movements from the position of a soldier
to battery drill in the field and also as infantry and cavalry.
Target practise, too, was introduced and for that purpose targets were
placed at several points with reference to distance and correctness in
shooting. These afforded an excellent opportunity for the men to become
familiar with their guns.
On the 31st of July, the command was mustered into the United States
service under the name of the 2d Massachusetts Light Artillery, and from
the same date the officers were commissioned. This was the first three
years' battery from the state of Massachusetts.
It was supposed that Major Cobb would take the battery into service, but
he left the state abruptly and Governor Andrews sent Adjutant General
Schouler down to camp to ask Major O. F. Nims, an experienced officer,
to take command and get to Washington as soon as possible.
Nims replied: "I will accept a commission whenever it is tendered me but
I will not ask for one." It was then suggested that the company be
called on to elect a captain, but this did not meet with Major Nims'
approval as he had made up his mind not to owe his position to the men
under him. "No," said he, "make me an officer if you will and then ask
them what they think of it." He was therefore given the rank of captain,
the men were lined up and informed of what had been done. A wild shout
of approval was their reply, the men throwing their caps in the air as a
further demonstration of their satisfaction.
The roster of commissioned officers then was as follows:
Captain, Ormand F. Nims.
Senior 1st Lieut., John W. Wolcott.
Junior 1st Lieut., John Bigelow.
Senior 2d Lieut., Geo. G. Trull.
Junior 2d Lieut., Richard B. Hall.
NON-COMMISSIONED
1st Sergeant, Lowell A. Chamberlain.
Quarter Master Sergeant, Alden N. Norcross.
Chief of Piece with rank of Sergeant, Frank J. Whitcher, Warren K. Snow,
Augustus B. Burwell, Henry P. Cheever, Orlando C. Harvey, Edward K.
Russell.
Gunners with rank of Corporal, Joseph S. Knowlton, Francis E. Howe,
Joseph Ackerman, Wm. W. Jordan, Converse F. Livermore, Joseph W.
Greenleaf.
Chief of Caisson with rank of Corporal, Henry M. Wadsworth, Frederick A.
Bellows, Edwin A. Andrews, Chas. F. Sherman, Lucian A. Hodgdon, S. S.
Lincoln.
Artificers, C. W. Cobb, H. E. Brown, Seth H. Hatch, Peter Jacobus,
Joseph S. Haven, Reuben B. H. Gould.
An old artillery officer for many years in the English service visited
the camp frequently and said that he never saw better material than the
men in Nims' Battery. "They have," said he, "intelligence and will, and
a very few months of active service will find them in the front rank of
merit in their class." Boston _Journal_, August 8, 1861.
Preparations were made to break camp August 7, but owing to an accident
which befell the machinery of the steamer which was to convey the
battery to New York it was necessary to wait until the following day. A
quotation from a Boston paper dated August 8, 1861, is as follows:
"The Light Artillery Company commanded by Capt. O. F. Nims, after
some delay as to their departure, left this city this morning,
shortly after one o'clock, on the Providence Railroad, for New York
and Washington, via Stonington. They were paid off yesterday
afternoon for their time of service up to departure. For two days
the scene at the camp at Quincy was lively indeed, the men being
actively engaged in packing and preparing for departure. They left
the old quarters at shortly after 7 o'clock last evening and marched
over the turnpike to this city, arriving at the Providence Railroad
Station at a few minutes past 10 o'clock. At the depot were a
considerable number of people who had been waiting for several hours
for the arrival of the company.
"As soon as the battery arrived at the station, the work of loading
the gun carriages, wagons, horses, etc., was actively begun, each of
the company lending a hand, and the work was accomplished in about
two hours. This done, a few moments were given to saying a parting
word to friends, after which the men were ordered to 'fall in,' and
marched to the cars. On their departure, friends and lookers-on
joined in giving three hearty cheers, which were enthusiastically
responded to by the members of the company.
"On the train were 156 men, 140 horses, and 21 carriages, including
the four baggage wagons, well loaded with the camp equipage and
baggage of the men. They were supplied with about 1200 rounds of
cartridges, including a considerable amount of grape and canister.
The men have three days rations with them."
At the time of organization, the uniform adopted was of a
semi-zouave type, dark blue with red trimmings, the trousers loose
to the knee, with russet leather leggins--grey shirt, a cut away
jacket buttoned at the top with a loop, and a regular military cap
trimmed with red. This made a very attractive uniform. Unfortunately
during the stay in Quincy, the salt air took out the color, and
before going into service the men were provided with regulation
United States uniforms.
The guns were fine United States bronze ordnance guns from the
Watervliet Arsenal, N. Y., rifled at Alger's Foundry in South Boston
and throwing a shell made by Schenkel, a very ingenious German. One
kind of shell was in the shape of a sugar loaf with hollowed bore
filled with papier-maché and weighing ten and one-half pounds, a
pound of powder being used to fire it. When discharged, the
papier-maché would swell out, fill the grooves and give the shell a
twist. The noise the projectile made on leaving the gun was very
similar to that of a locomotive going through a tunnel. When the
shell exploded, it flew all to bits--not two or three fragments but
forty or fifty pieces.
Another shell prepared by Schenkel was exceedingly deadly. It was
filled with bullets and between the bullets sulphur was poured in to
keep them in place. The horses were strong Vermont horses worth
$150.00 to $200.00 each.
Boston _Journal_, February 22, 1903.
So the journey began, by rail to Stonington, then by boat to New York,
then to Jersey City and over the old Camden and Amboy road to
Philadelphia, arriving there Monday morning, August 11, 1861.
A quotation from the Philadelphia _Evening Bulletin_ says:
"Captain Nims' celebrated Light Artillery consisting of six pieces of
rifled cannon, with caissons, ordnance wagons, one ambulance, together
with 140 horses arrived at Washington Avenue, at five o'clock. The
company consists of 150 men who are strong, hearty fellows just fitted
for artillery service. During the delay before starting for Baltimore,
the men sang several pieces, among them America and Glory Hallelujah.
The Union Volunteer Refreshment Committee provided them with breakfast
and the men were loud in their praise of Philadelphia beneficence."
On arriving at Baltimore the men went into camp on the estate of the
Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart on West Baltimore Street, the camp
bearing the name of Camp Hale. Here drill was resumed in earnest,
battery, piece and sabre drill and target practise.
A letter to the Boston _Journal_ bearing the date August 18, 1861 gives
the following picture of camp life.
CAMP HALE, BALTIMORE,
August 18, 1861.
To the Editor of the Boston _Journal_:
We came through Baltimore on the 12th, on our way from Camp Adams to
this encampment, which is situated on West Baltimore Street, is a
half-mile outside of the city, and in General Stuart's Park, which
is a beautiful place for an encampment, though as a park it is
pretty well used up. General Stuart is a general in the rebel army,
and at this place there were seized five hundred stand of arms. We
have plenty of fruit here, but do not eat much. The Baltimoreans use
us well and treat us as if we were their own citizens, but this may
be owing somewhat to our guns. There are a good many secessionists
here, but they keep very quiet and we do not have much to say to
them. Coming through Baltimore we enlivened the streets with "Glory
Hallelujah," and some savage faces were shown to us, but the sight
of our seven-shooters kept them very quiet.
We have just returned from bathing, and for this purpose we go
within one mile of the Relay House, the roads being lined with thick
woods. Houses are very scarce outside of the city, and very old and
small, looking like huts. On Saturday we marched to the Pratt Street
depot for the purpose of receiving and escorting two of our
Massachusetts regiments, but they did not arrive, thus disappointing
us and themselves, we have no doubt. The captain has just learned
that some arms are stored in Pratt Street, and has ordered our
detachment to attend to examining the premises and putting things in
order. To do this we take one baggage wagon, one gun, and
twenty-five men, each armed with two seven-shooters and sabre, and
thus we make easy work of it
We like our officers. Our captain is a man in the right place. We
all like him, for he looks out for the boys. And we have a fine set
of men, are very happily situated and every evening we have camp
life in full activity.
Our camp is somewhat different from that of a regiment, not having
quite such strict orders to conform to, and having no guard duty to
perform, that being done by the Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment. We are
in excellent health, having had but one sick man since we left Camp
Adams. It is probable we shall remain here for the present. Today is
Sunday and most of the men are writing home. It is quite warm, but
we have had no warmer weather here than we found at home. All
letters should be directed to "Camp Hale," Baltimore, care Capt. O.
F. Nims, Second Company Massachusetts Artillery.
Encamped at Baltimore at the same time was the 17th Massachusetts, and a
letter written by a member of that regiment follows:
To the Boston _Journal_, September 5.
"Nims' Artillery is at our left hand and a better set of fellows,
officers and men were never brought together. May we remain together 'in
union and for the Union' is the hearty wish of our officers. Our band
goes over to their headquarters twice a week and the enlivening strains
cause joy to them and will help to unite the two commands in still
stronger fetters than the mere fact that we are all 'Bay State boys.'
That is a strong card out here and when we unite in symphony as well as
harmony it's a pretty good tune."--
The boys won the respect and esteem of the citizens of Baltimore, even
of the Southern sympathizers, and on October 16, the loyal citizens of
Ward 19 presented to the battery a flag 20 x 35 feet which was mounted
on a flag staff 100 feet in height prepared by the men.
The Baltimore _Clipper_ gives an account of the event:
"Yesterday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, a large flag 26 x 20 feet, was
raised to the top of the pole which is 100 feet high, erected by the
members of Nims' Boston Battery, at Camp Andrew, West Baltimore Street
extended. At the appointed hour the line was formed in the rear of the
pole, and the six-rifled cannon placed in front, in a line facing the
city. The 17th Massachusetts Regiment then formed a hollow square on the
north side, when the Rev. Mr. Marshall, of the Twelfth Presbyterian
Church, Franklin Street, by invitation, advanced to the center of the
square and offered a most fervent prayer, imploring divine mercies upon
this Government.
"At a signal given the flag was run to the top of the pole, during which
the band of the 17th Massachusetts Regiment struck up the Star Spangled
Banner, and at every tap of the bass drum a gun was fired. Three cheers
were then given for the Stars and Stripes, which were joined in by the
many hundreds present. Upon quiet being restored, the band played Yankee
Doodle and Hail Columbia, and at each sound of the bass drum there was a
gun fired. This manner of salute, which is very common in Boston, is
something new here, and created considerable applause.
"After the ceremonies had ended, we were invited to take a stroll
through the camp, which we accepted, and were much gratified with our
visit. We found the men to be the most gentlemanly and agreeable set of
fellows it has been our pleasure to meet for a long time. This battery
does all its own work, such as horse-shoeing, harness making, saddling,
etc.
"From the general appearance of things, it looks as if they intended to
quarter there for the winter, although all with whom we conversed seemed
anxious to go to the seat of war. Their pieces are all marked No. 2, but
this is certainly the 'No. 1' Battery, and is so considered by all who
know them, and any person who does not know them to be such, only need
witness one of their drills to be convinced of the fact. The flag was a
present from the Union men of the 19th Ward."
Still another clipping from a Boston newspaper for the truth of which we
will not vouch, however, is entitled "None but the Brave deserve the
Fair." "We learn by a private letter written by a member of 'Nims' Light
Battery' from Baltimore, that its members are a little inclined to make
sad havoc with the affections of the young ladies of that city. 'Within
the last few weeks three or four marriages have taken place. The
"Battery boys" have been in great favor with the Union people ever since
their arrival in the city, and by their gentlemanly behavior and good
conduct have strengthened their friends' worthy appreciation. Within a
fortnight one of them, a young man of Boston, led to the altar a
daughter of one of the most respectable and wealthy Union citizens of
Baltimore. One of the lieutenants and two privates have also enjoyed the
pleasure of married life.'"
On the 4th of November the battery, together with the 4th Wisconsin
Regiment, Col. H. E. Paine, and an independent company of Pennsylvania
cavalry, Captain Richards, started on an expedition down the Chesapeake,
landing at Whitehaven, Md., on the Wiacomo River and marching to
Princess Ann where they spent the night in the court house. The next
day, the march was continued to Snow Hill. On that day, the men
experienced some of the minor hardships of a soldier's life, for we read
in the diary of George Houghton:
"A very hard march in the rain over awful roads of sand and mud and the
last two miles the water two feet deep. Some of the infantry gave out as
this was their first experience and we took them on our wagons and
caissons. After traveling twenty miles we had to go to bed without any
supper for the _Jersey Blue_, the boat carrying our rations, lost its
way up the river and was a day late. I slept in the guard tent and most
froze to death."
Another says: "We were quartered in a negro church but no peace for the
weary or hungry there. As our rations had not arrived, we came out minus
on the supper question, all the food having been secured for the
infantry, who had seen hard marching and wading for a first experience."
The day previous to the arrival at Snow Hill had been election day and
the vote in the town had stood one majority in favor of secession.
After a day or two in the negro church, camp was made in the woods near
by in connection with the 4th Wisconsin and the cavalry. Sibley tents
were given out and as one of the privates writes home: "They are real
nice and comfortable though there is no means for hanging up clothes. We
have purchased a camp kettle and are cooking by detachments."
The appearance of the country was unfamiliar to our New England boys and
one writes: "I've scarcely seen anything that deserves to be called a
hillock and the soil is either wet, sandy, or swampy." Quite a change
from the rock ribbed hills and mountains of the homeland. However, while
critical of soil and landscape, Maryland oysters met with universal
approbation. Baked beans too had a familiar taste though sometimes when
baked in a Dutch-oven underground the sand found its way in, giving a
flavor not approved by Bostonians.
The purpose of this Eastern Shore campaign as it was called was to make
a demonstration of Union forces in Somerset and Worcester counties, Md.,
where the feeling was strong for secession and where troops for the
Confederacy were being recruited. On November 14, camp was broken at
Snow Hill and the battery marched sixteen miles to Newtown, Md., where
it joined the larger body of troops under General Lockwood.
The whole force now consisted of detachments from the 4th Wisconsin,
21st Indiana, 6th Michigan, 5th New York, 2d Delaware, Pursell's Legion
of Maryland, 17th Massachusetts, Richard's Cavalry and the 2d
Massachusetts Light Battery all in command of General Lockwood.
November 13, General Dix had issued a proclamation[1] to the inhabitants
of Accomac and Northampton counties, Virginia, urging them to peace and
loyalty. To enforce this proclamation General Lockwood with his brigade
left Newtown and went by way of Drummondtown and Belleville to Eastville
toward the end of the peninsula.
Footnote 1:
See Off. Records, Vol. 5, p, 431.
The battery arrived at Drummondtown, November 21. This was Thanksgiving
Day and we read, "Poultry very plenty on the way. Bought (?) two turkeys
and a goose for our dinner. Grand mistake of Corporal S. in boiling a
chicken with a bar of soap."
On the way from Drummondtown to Eastville scouting parties were sent out
and in these the members of the battery took part capturing seven
six-pound guns, several hundred muskets, ammunition, and a brass
twelve-pound Howitzer which had been buried in the woods. December 1, a
grand review was held by General Lockwood.
As it was evident the Confederate forces had left the country and the
purpose of the expedition had been accomplished, preparations were made
for the return to Baltimore.
Accordingly on December 12, the battery again went on board the
_Pocahontas_ and returned to its former camp in Baltimore after an
absence of forty-seven days during which "the only sanguinary occurrence
was the capture and slaughter of turkeys, geese, and other fowls for
which severe punishment was meted out by General Lockwood."
One of the men in a letter written home at this time writes: "We were
amused somewhat at one time on the trip by the astonishment of an old
darky who seeing our brigade inquired, 'Has all you genn'men got names?'
and while we were waiting several days near the landing for
transportation we spent our time out of doors and bathing in the waters
of the bay which we thought pretty good for December."
On the 18th of December, Lieutenants Wolcott and Bigelow resigned to
accept positions in a Maryland battery. Second Lieutenants Trull and
Hall were promoted to their positions and the vacancies were filled by
the commissioning of William Marland of Andover and Sergeant Warren K.
Snow of Boston as second lieutenants.
Life at Camp Andrew from December till the following February was
uneventful though by no means idle. The men worked hard, drills were
held almost daily furnishing perhaps an explanation for the later record
of the battery when real warfare began. In regard to this Capt. E. K.
Russell writes:
"One of the things that won the love of the Union men of Baltimore was
the frequent battery drills through the streets of that city. Captain
Nims was always in command and the rapid movements of the battery as a
whole, in sections, or single guns, stationed at certain points to
command all avenues of approach at given points were simply marvellous.
Much of the work was done by the bugle and if the bugler was not at hand
our captain carried a small one under his arm and this would ring out
the commands with a snap so that not only the men took notice but even
the horses recognized the calls and jumped into the movements with a
will."
It is evident that Captain Nims had a high ideal of what a battery
should be and spared neither pains nor effort in his endeavor to reach
this ideal. "This morning, drill. We jumped ditches, pond holes,
anything that could be jumped, ran up banks six or eight feet high and
then had a run down street." "Had a foot drill today and it was rough
double quick--then the captain gave us instructions on dress parade."
"Sabre drill on horseback." "Spent about all day cleaning up harnesses,
horses, etc. Captain came around and examined them." And so on day after
day.
Naturally new conditions of life prevailed and as some one has said
"Citizens had to be made into soldiers." The regret manifested by the
people of Baltimore when the battery was ordered south speaks well for
the conduct and character of its men. Discipline of course was strictly
maintained and we are not surprised to read in one diary, "Privates --
and -- had to walk in barrels eight hours a day for three days"; or "--
was threatened with a barrel for missing roll call this morning." But
certainly this does not seem like a very heinous offence to the
civilian.
Letters from home were eagerly welcomed. In one diary opposite the date
December 25 we read "Letter from home--good Christmas present that"; and
another writes "I don't get my letters so often as I wish I did." Boxes
too were gladly received and their contents shared with less fortunate
comrades.
A quotation from the Boston _Journal_ of February gives a picture of a
social event in camp. "The first grand ball of the battery came off at
Stewart's Hall, Baltimore, on Monday evening and was a grand success.
The floor managers and musicians were all members of the battery. The
order of dances consisted of a grand promenade, four quadrilles, some
fancy dances and wound up with a 'walk around' by Mr. C. We hope to have
our next ball in Boston among our friends."
It was expected that the battery would now be attached to the Army of
the Potomac but on the organization of Gen. B. F. Butler's expedition,
Captain Nims and his men were assigned to the Department of the Gulf and
the Mississippi. Accordingly on February 25, 1862 the battery left
Baltimore and went by steamer _Columbia_ to Fort Monroe camping near
Hampton in view of the mouth of the James River and of Hampton Roads.
Here the men witnessed the destruction of the warships _Congress_ and
_Cumberland_ by the ram _Merrimac_ and the encounter between the
_Monitor_ and the _Merrimac_. The following interesting account of the
same is taken from a record written by S. P. Skilton, a member of the
battery.
"On the 8th of March at noon we heard heavy firing toward Newport News
and the steam frigates _Roanoke_ and _Minnesota_ and quite a lot of
gunboats went up that way engaging the battery at Sewall's Point though
their fire fell far short of it. The old steam frigate _Merrimac_ had
been cut down and iron clad by the Confederates and was whipping our
vessels, as they were all wooden ones and could make scarcely any
impression on the ironplated monster. After about an hour's hard
fighting the _Merrimac_ ran her prow into the _Cumberland_, causing her
to fill with water and rendering her useless.
"Commodore Morris would not surrender nor haul down the flag but kept at
work at the guns till water covered the decks. Night coming on, the
_Merrimac_ anchored off Sewall's Point. That was a dark night for us, as
with one exception nothing looked hopeful. We were cut off from help
landward, the _Congress_ was burned, the _Cumberland_ sunk, the
_Minnesota_ was aground and the _Roanoke_ helpless with a broken shaft,
while nothing seemed to check the ram at all. About midnight the
_Congress_ blew up. Among the dark rumors that night came a grain of
hope in the report that an iron cased battery, the _Ericsson_ which had
been expected had arrived and would engage the _Merrimac_ in the
morning. Still it was but a grain.
"Light on that Sabbath morning showed the new helper lying behind the
_Minnesota_ but looking rather insignificant. About eight o'clock the
_Merrimac_ came saucily out accompanied by the _Jamestown_ and
_Yorktown_, wooden steamers and evidently expecting to have it all her
own way as on the previous afternoon. As she approached the _Minnesota_
the new comer came out from behind, which caused her to hesitate. She
soon came on again when the _Ericsson_ engaged her for several hours. At
one o'clock the _Merrimac_ hauled away for Norfolk with her guns all
disabled while the _Ericsson_ was not damaged at all. You can imagine
there was great relief on the part of those who had stood watching and
feeling that their own welfare depended on the outcome of that fight."
The night preceding this naval battle one section of the battery under
Lieutenant Trull accompanied by a company of 1st Delaware was on picket
duty at White Gate, guarding the cross roads as an attack by land was
looked for. The men stood at their guns all night, but morning dawned
without the appearance of the enemy. At the same time the left section
was stationed at Hampton Bridge under Lieutenant Hall. The morning of
the same day the battery was ordered to Hampton Creek, where it remained
for four hours firing several shots at the _Merrimac_, which was,
however, too far away to be reached.
While in camp at Fort Monroe there was a grand review of all the troops
by General Wool and also during their stay General McClellan's army of
125,000 marched by on their way to Yorktown. Speaking of the stay at
Fort Monroe, Captain Russell writes: "This was one of the most trying
times for the battery. We were all anxious to get to the front somewhere
and while encamped here, along came the Army of the Potomac on the way
to Yorktown. Day after day a continuous stream of men and batteries
passed us calling to us 'Come on, get into the swim with us.'"
While here the battery had an opportunity to compete with one of the
regulars in target practise. "Several Confederate steamers, the
_Merrimac_ among them, came out of Norfolk and lay in line off Sewall's
Point. The battery was ordered to Hampton Creek with a battery of the
regular army on the left. About 4 P. M. the _Merrimac_ moved a little
nearer and fired at the Union steamer _Naugatuck_, but burst a gun and
fell back disabled. The regular battery fired a few shot at her but fell
short two miles. The right section of our battery fired at an elevation
of 30° by sinking the trail in the ground, the first shot bursting just
on the other side of the _Merrimac_--a distance of four and one-half
miles. We received much praise for our gunnery." _Diary, W. G. Hidden._
"The next day we trained a gun on Sewall's Point and fired a shell. It
went so close to the far-away beach that Captain Nims said 'Give her a
little more elevation.' We dug the hole a little deeper, put her muzzle
a little higher and the captain's next shell landed plumb on the point.
That was five miles away."
To quote again from Captain Russell: "Our stay in the vicinity of Fort
Monroe was about seven weeks. During that time we had seen much and done
little so that when the old ship _DeWitt Clinton_ reported as ready to
bear us to the Southland for more active service we were all glad. But
the loading of all our horses on the ship and placing them in stalls
below deck was no small job. Then came the guns and carriages,
ammunition, forges, etc. But at last all was ready and as we sailed past
the capes and the old ship headed southward we felt that at last we were
off for the place awaiting us where we could do something for the
integrity of our country and its flag. Our voyage was a pleasant one, no
sickness of a serious character, the men cheerful and spending much time
in making souvenirs of the voyage out of anything at hand. One thing did
occur which made a lasting impression on the minds of those who
witnessed it. Our ship was to report at Ship Island for further orders.
After we had rounded Cape Florida one night, with our good ship under
full sail and a free wind, the cry came from the lookout, 'Rocks ahead.'
All of us who were on deck and those who could quickly reach it saw on
each side of the bow of the ship and not far distant towers of rocks. No
time was left to turn the ship to right or left, and so the man at the
wheel could do nothing but let her go straight ahead. We braced
ourselves for the expected shock, that would send us all to a watery
grave. Seconds seemed hours. As we passed the rocks it seemed that one
could throw a stone and hit them on either side. No shock came. Our ship
went through into open water, she was rounded up into the wind, sails
clewed up and anchor let go and we all breathed again. When morning came
we found that our navigator had made a great mistake in his calculations
and we had been piloted in safety through Dead Men's Keys. By whom? By
God, in whose service we were. With grateful hearts we sailed away and
reached Ship Island without further incident."
Ship Island was reached on the 14th after a passage of twenty-two days.
A letter from Thomas N. Palmer written the following day:
"We have had a very pleasant voyage, no serious storm since we left Fort
Monroe--a good steady old ship. The boys are all in good spirits and
ready for anything. This war is fast drawing to a close and we shall
soon be traveling north." Of the 134 horses belonging to the battery
only four died on the trip, a rather unusual record at that time. As the
government valued each horse reaching Ship Island at $700 this was
regarded as a decidedly favorable passage from a financial point of
view.
At Ship Island news was received of the taking of New Orleans two weeks
before and the battery proceeded at once up the Mississippi arriving at
New Orleans on the morning of May 24 and camping at the Pelican Cotton
Press. It was now assigned to General Williams' Brigade and in less than
a week ordered on board the steamers _Burton_ and _Diana_ for Baton
Rouge where it arrived on June 1. "Here we found our old Eastern Shore
comrades, the 4th Wisconsin and 6th Michigan regiments, who greeted us
with hearty cheers and still more to the point furnished us with hot
coffee." During this time the men were sent on scouting expeditions
capturing some prisoners, seizing everything of value and burning some
of the plantations which served as Confederate strongholds. On one of
these expeditions the left section together with the 30th Massachusetts
and two companies of the 4th Wisconsin captured 40,000 lbs. of sugar,
molasses, cattle, sheep, mules, and wagons, and took prisoners one
lieutenant and four privates.
The battery now prepared to join in the expedition against Vicksburg and
on the 22d of June landed at Ellis Cliff in order to dislodge a hostile
force that had fired the day before on the Union transports passing up
the river. After a seven miles' march through the woods the enemy's camp
was reached where fires were burning and beans boiling but the occupants
had left in a hurry. The captain of the band was however captured in his
carriage. Two days later a similar movement was made at Grand Gulf where
the Confederates were driven from their position, five prisoners taken
and the town and railroad destroyed. Under the date June 24, "3 A. M.
Steamers with infantry and battery on board sailed up a bayou to get in
the rear of Grand Gulf. 10 A. M. Landed at Berry's Plantation. Formed
line of march, 4th Wisconsin and right half of battery in advance.
Marched two miles and found a small force of the enemy in the woods who
fired on our infantry. Colonel Paine ordered the right piece to the
front. He did not have to wait long for my horses were ready for a jump.
We soon reached the woods, fired a few shots at the enemy who saved
themselves by getting on board a train and steaming away. Fired at train
and struck the rear car completely shattering it. Marched five miles,
found enemy's camp on fire vacated an hour previous. Then into Grand
Gulf where we burned every building and destroyed the railroad track."
_J. S. Knowlton._
Two days later the expedition arrived at Point de Soto, three miles
below Vicksburg, where the battery was first under fire and had its
first lesson in real fighting. The occasion for this was incidental to
the passage of Farragut's fleet up the river. Farragut had received most
urgent Letters from the Navy Department urging upon him the clearing of
the Mississippi, Vicksburg being then the only point in the possession
of the Confederates. Although he felt that it was impossible to take the
city without a large land force, he prepared at once to make the
attempt. Sending on in advance a flotilla of mortar boats under
Commander D. D. Porter he followed with his fleet of three ships and
seven gunboats accompanied by ten transports carrying General Williams'
Brigade of four regiments and two batteries--the 2d and the 6th
Massachusetts.
To quote from J. S. Knowlton's diary: "Our mortar boats commenced
bombarding the city of Vicksburg at 4 P. M. We were ordered around the
backside of the woods so as to get unperceived to the nearest point to
Vicksburg. We marched over five miles and came to a halt on the railroad
about three quarters of a mile from the point where we were to go into
action. Here we dismounted and slept by our horses until the mortar
boats began firing which was a signal for us to start. The firing soon
became very severe, which indicated that the fleet had started. We
pushed down the railroad, shot and shell falling thick and fast all
around us, cutting off trees and plowing the soil at an enormous rate.
We soon reached the shore and concentrated our whole fire upon three
batteries of the enemy's right wing. Their batteries could be seen
blazing from all points of the city. We made some good shots, putting
our shell plumb within the enemy's works. They kept up a continual
firing on our fleets sending their shots with great rapidity. At 5 P.
M., the fleet having passed, we were ordered back to camp, having been
engaged an hour and a half. Not a man in our company was injured in the
whole engagement and only one horse was hit."
Another member of the battery writes: "Probably few grander sights were
to be had during the war than we saw that morning as Farragut in the
_Hartford_, just going enough to prevent the current getting the better
of him, led his fleet of wooden vessels through that deluge of shot and
shell." _S. P. Skilton._
At an inspection the next afternoon, Captain Nims said that Commodore
Farragut expressed much pleasure at the performance of the battery and
the aid it had rendered and stated that it was the hottest fire he was
ever under. The only part taken by the land forces in this expedition
was by the two Massachusetts batteries.
A few days later the fleet passed back down the river under a heavy fire
from Vicksburg and remained for some time in the vicinity of the city.
Before Vicksburg the river made one of those gigantic bends for which it
is famous.[2] For three miles it flowed directly toward the city and
then bending suddenly flowed in an exactly opposite direction. Between
these lines lay a peninsula scarcely a mile wide. When following the
course of the stream, a vessel going up or down the river was under fire
of the batteries for a distance of six miles. It was thought that if a
canal be dug across this peninsula the current of the river might wear a
channel by which boats could pass leaving them exposed for only one
mile. Accordingly General Williams was commissioned to gather a force of
negroes from the surrounding plantations to carry out this enterprise.
Some 1500 were brought in and set to work, but the plan did not succeed.
The position was not well chosen and before the work was completed the
river rose suddenly and destroyed all that had been accomplished.
Footnote 2:
See The Mississippi, J. V. Greene.
It was now evident that while it was possible to send a fleet up the
river if necessary, Vicksburg could not be taken without a land force of
12,000 to 15,000 men. Accordingly, on July 24, Farragut's fleet,
together with the transports bearing General Williams' Brigade, started
down the river leaving Vicksburg entirely free. General Williams and his
troops debarked at Baton Rouge for the purpose of permanently occupying
it.
Of this entire movement Irwin says: "No casualties occurred but the
troops returned July 26 to Baton Rouge after having for more than three
months undergone hardships such as have seldom fallen to the lot of
soldiers in a campaign whose existence is scarcely known and whose name
is well nigh forgotten.
During the stay near Vicksburg many of the men contracted fever and on
July 19 occurred the first death among the members of the battery--that
of Theodore H. Price of Boston. Others followed in quick succession
until by August 8, six of the battery had fallen victims to the
soldier's worst foe, disease. These were: Theodore H. Price, died July
19; J. S. Haven, died July 31; Alvin Lovejoy, died August 2; Cyrus
Davidson, died August 5; E. L. Leavitt, died August 5; M. F. Tate, died
August 8.
Nor was this all, for at the grand review and inspection by General
Williams on July 31, of the 140 members of the battery only 21 were
present for duty, the remainder, including Captain Nims himself, being
in the hospital. The same condition naturally prevailed among the other
members of the brigade, one regiment (the 7th Vermont) mustering but 48
men and other regiments averaging 150; so that not one half of the
entire number was reported as ready for service.
When this state of affairs was made known to Major Van Dorn of the
Confederate Army, he organized an expedition to capture the post. It was
composed of about 5000 men under Gen. J. C. Breckenridge who expected to
be aided in his endeavor by the ram _Arkansas_. With his entire force
moving along the two roads that enter Baton Rouge from the southwest he
made a vigorous attack in the early morning of August 5. Williams was
expecting the attack (we read in the diary of one of the men that the
horses had been standing in harness three days and three nights), and
had arranged his forces to meet it. His army, depleted as it was by
sickness, numbered only 2500 effective men. He posted the 4th Wisconsin
on Bayou Gros on the extreme left, with a portion of Manning's Battery
in the arsenal grounds on its left. On the right of that regiment was
the 9th Connecticut with four of Manning's guns in the cemetery. To the
left of Greenwell Springs Road was the 14th Maine and next came the 21st
Indiana with four guns of Everett's Battery. The 6th Michigan was posted
across the country road with two guns. In the rear of the last two was
the 7th Vermont, and at the extreme right was the 30th Massachusetts
supporting Nims' Battery.[3]
Footnote 3:
See Lossing's History of the Civil War.
Owing to the illness of Captain Nims, First Lieutenant Trull was in
command, while to take the place of the men in the hospital a detail of
thirty men had been secured from the 9th Connecticut so that when the
battle opened the six guns were manned.
The conflict lasted from four to nine o'clock, a period of five hours,
and throughout the entire battle Nims' Battery won the highest
commendation for efficient service. Perhaps nothing could give a better
account of what it accomplished than the Official Report of Colonel
Dudley:[4] "I immediately ordered Nims' Battery under the command of the
brave and efficient First Lieutenant Trull, to the left and considerably
to the front so as to clear the thick woods in its front. This battery
went into action within 250 yards of a Kentucky regiment sheltered by a
fence and a cornfield, where it remained doing excellent service until
ordered to change position. Officers and men could not have behaved
better. More coolness could not have been expected from veterans than
the officers and men of this battery displayed. They changed position
four times under my own observation and on each occasion the gallant
commander displayed his competency for the prominent part he acted in
this severest part of the field.... At one time the undaunted Trull with
his battery was hotly engaged on the right with a full battery of the
enemy which had approached within 150 yards (supposed to have been the
celebrated Simmes' Battery), but the 6th Michigan moved up to the
support of Nims' Battery in elegant order. Its assistance came most
fortunately for it was clear the enemy intended to outflank us at this
point.... At this juncture of the conflict I ordered Lieutenant Trull to
fire his three left pieces across the fronts of the Indiana 21st,
Massachusetts 30th, and 7th Vermont. This was the turning point of the
right wing. The galling fire of canister effectually silenced the
enemy's fire and they retreated to the rear."
Footnote 4:
Off. Rep., Vol. 15, p. 39.
At one time the guns became so hot that it was impossible to use them
and it became necessary to wait. While water was being brought to cool
them a fierce attack was made by the enemy, but proved unsuccessful.
"At another time the enemy advanced bearing the Stars and Stripes until
they were within 25 yards of the battery who supposed them to be their
own men, but soon their artillery and infantry opened a tremendous fire,
too high, however, to do much damage. In an instant the guns were
discharged and the enemy mowed down like grass, the first fire killing
over 100. Great cheers and praises for Nims' boys could be heard all
over the battlefield." _Diary of J. S. Knowlton._
A correspondent of the Boston _Journal_ gives the following description
of the battle.